FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 2, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
LIC investment plan fully funded in mayor’s budget
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
When Mayor Bill de Blasio presented
his $92.5 billion executive city budget for
Fiscal Year 2020, it included good news
for Long Island City.
Th e budget included the $180 million
funding package that de Blasio promised
last October to improve infrastructure
that has lagged behind the unprecedented
expansion that has made Long Island
City the fastest growing neighborhood in
the country.
“I am delighted that Mayor de Blasio
is keeping his commitment to the Long
Island City community,” Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney said. “I have made it
clear to him that I believe it is critically
important for the city to fi x the aging
sewers system in Long Island City, which
backs up every time it rains, to build
new parks and schools to meet a growing
Queens Public Library, Citi agree to keep Court Square branch open
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Queens Public Library announced it
is fi nalizing an agreement with Citi that
will enable QPL’s Court Square branch to
remain open in its current location at One
Court Square through March 2020.
It was a bit of good news aft er the
release of last Mayor Bill de Blasio’s executive
budget last week that did not include
any additional operating funds for the
Queens, Brooklyn and New York public
libraries aft er they made clear to the City
Council and the de Blasio administration
that they need an additional $35 million
in operational support to deliver the current
level of service.
“We are thrilled that Citi has off ered
to extend our $1-a-year sublease of the
Court Square branch well beyond its
August expiration, enabling us to meet
our objective of remaining there as long
as possible,” Queens Public Library
President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott
said. “Given that Citi’s lease ends weeks
aft er out sublease ends, we are grateful
it has given us the maximum extension
possible. We are deeply appreciative
of Citi’s fl exibility and its decades of support
for our mission. We also will continue
to engage with the owner of the building
and others to explore a long-term
solution.”
Savanna, the real estate company that
bought the 53-story tower formerly
known as the Citigroup Building, was left
at the altar when Amazon scuttled it plans
for an HQ2 campus in Long Island City.
Amazon was set to lease more than 1.5
million square feet of offi ce space to use
as a temporary headquarters during the
build-out of the HQ2 complex and Citi
was relocating its workers.
“We are longtime supporters of Queens
Public Library and have been proud
to provide space for the Court Square
branch since we fi rst opened our doors
in Long Island City 30 years ago,” Citi
Executive Vice President Edward Skyler
said. “We also will support the Library in
fi nding a long-term solution so this growing
community isn’t deprived of this vital
civic service.”
Th e agreement with Citi comes aft er
months of discussions that would enable
the Court Square branch to remain in the
3,200-square-foot space on the ground
fl oor of the building for as long as possible.
“Th is extension is a great short-term
victory that will ensure the Court Square
Library’s invaluable services and programs
are not disrupted,” City Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer.” Th e Court Square
Library is a cornerstone of our growing
community, serving thousands of individuals
and families each year. It deserves
a permanent home.”
Th e number of people who visit the
branch and circulation have skyrocketed
since it fi rst opened in 1989. It attracts
nearly 100,000 people a year, and off ers
hundreds of programs for the growing
community of residents and employees
of local businesses and government and
non-profi t organizations.
“I am glad our voices were heard and
this important community asset will
remain in place long enough to fi nd a new
home,” state Senator Michael Gianaris
said. “Th e Court Square Library plays a
crucial role for a growing neighborhood
and I will do everything I can to ensure its
continuing presence in our community.”
population, to create new aff ordable
housing and bring jobs to this community,
to support the creative community
that has developed in Long Island City
and to enhance our overtaxed transportation
system.”
Th e Long Island City Investment
Strategy includes $95 million for
improvements to the sewer system and
water mains, $60 million committed for
the School Construction Authority to
build a new school in Court Square,
$10 million in additional funding for
the Department of Transportation’s
Hunters Point street reconstruction project,
and $15 million for improvements to
Queensbridge Baby Park, Old Hickory
Playground, Bridge and Tunnel Park and
Court Square.
“In the coming months, I’ll be working
with the de Blasio administration
to make sure the funding is invested as
promised,” Maloney said.
Th e strategy’s genesis was a town
hall meeting in March 2015 at MoMA
PS1 hosted by Councilman Jimmy Van
Bramer and Department of Cultural
Aff airs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl
where a standing-room-only crowd
unleashed a litany of complaints about
strained infrastructure in the real estate
boom that began with a 2001 rezoning.
Th e city responded with “extensive
interagency coordination and community
outreach” that culminated in the plan
to ensure that LIC’s growth is sustainable
and inclusive.
“While I’m pleased to see the $180 million
in LIC infrastructure investment
offi cially added to the city’s budget, we
need more than just this step in the
right direction,” Van Bramer said. “And
like this $180 million, we need more
infrastructure investment that isn’t tied
to more development. Th e needs exist
today for the people who call LIC home
now. I’m proud to have fought for this
city funding which will ensure that LIC
is more livable and sustainable, but now
we need the SCA to site and build the
school in Court Square as promised and
the other infrastructure upgrades to start
ASAP. I’ll keep working for more funding
because LIC needs and deserves it.”
State Senator Michael Gianaris agreed
the infrastructure in wester Queens has
fi led to keep up with the rapid growth
and development.
“While I welcome this investment in
our sewers, roads and schools, much
more needs to be done to meet the
community’s needs, including more
aff ordable housing and critical transit
upgrades,” Gianaris said.
Photo via Shutterstock
Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
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